Insurers have scrapped or merged a number of health insurance policies this year, reducing the total on offer from 71 to 61, according to health insurer information centre Vektis.

Consumer groups and health minister Edith Schippers had complained that patients found the large number of policies confusing, especially as many came from the same parent company. Some 90% of the Dutch health insurance market is controlled by four firms.

Last year, over one million people switched health insurer during the December window, a change-over rate of 6.3%.

Vektis said the number of people who are covered by a collective health policy via work or a club is going down and more people are opting to increase their own-risk payments, which can be as much as €885 a year.

Some 84% of people opt for a top-up insurance policy to cover items no longer included in the basic policy – which is determined by the government.